The surface of the sun is never at rest. The surface looks like a pot of thick boiling soup. There is nothing solid on the surface of the Sun; it is much too hot for that! However, there are special features that scientists have observed.
The Sun is the source of the solar wind, a flow of gases from the Sun that streams past the Earth at speeds of more than a million miles per hour. Disturbances in the solar wind shake the Earth's magnetic field.
Solar flares are tremendous explosions on the surface of the Sun. In a matter of just a few minutes they heat material to many millions of degrees. This "Space Weather" can change the orbits of satellites, damage satellites and pose a threat to astronauts. Shaking the Earth's magnetic field can also cause surges in power lines that destroy equipment and knock out power over large areas. How might a solar flare affect your life?
Sunspots are cooler storm-like areas on the surface of the Sun. Sunspots are caused by magnetic fields that block the flow of heat from the sun’s interior. Sunspots are several thousand degrees cooler than the rest of the sun's surface. Some sunspots are many times larger that the size of the Earth. Sunspot storms can last a few hours or for several months.
